How Many Litter Boxes Per Cat in a Multi-Cat Household?

Felines' natural instinct to bury their urine and feces make the litter box a fixture in every cat lover's home. Not every cat owner realizes too few litter boxes, or mismanaged litter box protocol, can lead to urinary and behavioral problems in multi-cat households.

  1. Number of Litter Boxes

    • Veterinarians recommend one litter box per cat plus one for multiple cat households. Cats can be finicky when it comes to elimination; the extra litter box provides your kitties with variety and an elimination spot should they deem one of the other boxes unusable as a result of overuse or territorial behavior. This may seem like an excessive number of boxes, but the general rule helps prevent potty-time conflict between inherently territorial cats; you don̵7;t want a situation where a timid, submissive kitty is afraid to approach the litter box. Most cats prefer not to share, especially if they don̵7;t get along well, and will likely stake claim to a specific litter box when given the option.

    Location

    • Location is important when it comes to the litter box environment. Place the litter boxes in quiet, low-traffic areas to provide your kitties with privacy during elimination. A busy kitchen or hallway may not be the best choice, whereas guest bedrooms, bathrooms or large walk-in closets make for ideal litter box placement. In order to mimic the natural outdoor environment, place the boxes in a variety of locations, providing your cats with multiple sites to choose from. If you̵7;re low on square footage, space out the litter boxes in different corners of the same room as opposed flush against each other.

    Maintenance

    • Scoop each litter box daily; completely empty and replace the litter every week to two weeks depending on frequency of use and the type of litter you use. Avoid fragrant soaps or cleaning products during cleaning. Instead use a mild soap and water to clean the entire box during each litter change.

    Variety

    • In a multi-cat household, it̵7;s possible each cat will have a different litter box preference and often even a different litter preference. If you̵7;re just starting out, it̵7;s best to provide a comprehensive variety. For three cats, choose at least one covered and uncovered box as well as three different types of litter -- clumping, non-clumping and dust-free are the best options. A lot of cats prefer unscented litter, but if you must choose a scented type, choose a mild, natural scent such as lavender.

    Considerations

    • According to the ASPCA, at least 10 percent of cats develop elimination problems at some point in their lives, even with the proper number of litter boxes, immaculate cleaning and plenty of variety. The most common signs of medical elimination problems include straining, frequent urination with little production, bloody urine, inappropriate elimination, painful urination and excessive licking of the bottom or belly. Stay vigilant -- familiarize yourself with each cat̵7;s individual elimination behavior; this is especially important when you have multiple cats, in order to pinpoint the suffering kitty. Consult your veterinarian if any changes occur.